CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 9
Science in context guidance 6 a 
Choose the loop containing the 5 V cell
at the top, the 10 Ω resistor with current
Computers have had a massive impact on industry I, and the central 5 V cell, as the only
over the last 30 years. For example: current involved is I.
• The internet has revolutionised b s um of e.m.f.s of cells in loop = 5.0 + 5.0 =
communication, allowing engineers to send 10 V = p.d. across resistor
plans etc instantly to colleagues.
V = IR so I = V/R = 10/10 = 1.0 A
• 3D printers can now be used to manufacture 7 I n the loop, the sum of e.m.f.s = 30 − 10 = 20
basic items anywhere in the world. NASA V, which by Kirchhoff’s second law must equal
has designed spare parts and sent them the sum of the p.d.s across the resistors, given
electronically to the International Space by V = IR
Station where they could print them using a 3D
sum of p.d.s across resistors = (0.5 × R) + (0.5
printer
× 10) + (0.2 × 10) + (0.2 × 20)
• Computers have allowed automation of so, 20 = (0.5 × R) + 11, giving R = (20 − 11)/
increasingly complex routines. Networks 0.5 = 18 Ω
of sensors in machinery allow issues to be
8 In series, the 1 C charge passes through both
identified and dealt with early.
batteries and gains or loses 6 J in each. If
the batteries are connected so that both of
them move the charge in the same direction,
Self-assessment questions total e.m.f. = 6 + 6 = 12 V. If the batteries are
1 4.5 A connected back to front, the charge gains
2 1.5 towards P energy in one cell but loses it in the other, so
total e.m.f. = 0 V.
3 current towards junction = 1.0 + 2.5 + 3.0 = 6.5
In parallel, half the charge flows through one
c urrent away from the junction = 4.0 + 2.0 + battery and half through the other, so the
0.5 = 6.5 total energy gained is 6 J, meaning the total
Kirchhoff’s first law is satisfied. e.m.f. = 6 V.
4 current towards the junction = 3.0 + 2.0 9 Consider the circuit loop at the top,
containing the 10 V cell and a 20 Ω resistor.
c urrent away from the junction = 7.0 + I
7.0 + I = 3.0 + 2.0, I = 5.0 − 7.0 = −2 A  se Kirchhoff’s second law and V = IR to give
U
10 V = I1 × 20 Ω, so current through A1 is I1 =
Therefore, I is 2.0 A towards the junction, the
10/20 = 0.50 A
opposite direction to that shown in the diagram.
Consider the circuit loop at the bottom,
5 Sum of e.m.f.s around any loop in a circuit
containing the 5 V cell and a 20 Ω resistor. Use
is equal to the sum of the p.d.s around the
Kirchhoff’s second law and V = IR to give 5 V
loop. So, e.m.f. of power supply = Sp.d.s
= I1 × 20 Ω, so current through A3 is I3 = 5/20
across resistors, meaning p.d. across resistor
= 0.25 A
R = e.m.f. of power supply − p.d. across 20 Ω
resistor = 10 − (0.1 × 20) = 8.0 V; V = IR so
resistance R = VI = 8.0/0.1 = 80 Ω

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

 ow use Kirchhoff’s first law at the circuit

N 2 00 Ω (two ways), 250 Ω, 300 Ω and 400 Ω
junction to the right of ammeter A2 to give I1 In detail:
= I2 + I3 so current through A2 is I2 = I1 − I3 =
• One 100 Ω on its own
0.50 − 0.25 = 0.25 A
10 total resistance = 5 + 5 + 10 = 20 Ω • One 200 Ω on its own
 se Kirchhoff’s second law to give e.m.f. =
11 U • Both 100 Ω in series, R = 200 Ω
V1 + V2
• 100 Ω + 200 Ω in series, R = 300 Ω
so, V2 = e.m.f. − V1 = 2.0 − 1.2 = 0.8 V
12 a  All five in series and pointing the same way, • All in series, R = 200 + 100 + 100 = 400 Ω
so e.m.f. = 1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 7.5 V • Both 100 Ω in parallel, 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 =
b  ive in series, with two facing in the
F 1/100 + 1/100 = 2/100 so R = 50 Ω
opposite direction, so e.m.f. = 1.5 + 1.5 +
• 100 Ω and 200 Ω in parallel, 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 =
1.5 − 1.5 − 1.5 = 1.5 V or all five in parallel
1/100 + 1/200 = 3/200 so R = 67 Ω
c
 ive in series, with one facing in the
F
opposite direction, so e.m.f. = 1.5 + 1.5 + • 100 Ω and 200 Ω in parallel, plus 100 Ω in
1.5 + 1.5 − 1.5 = 4.5 V or two in parallel series, R = 67 + 100 = 167 Ω
to give e.m.f. of 1.5 V, connected in series • 100 Ω and 100 Ω in parallel, plus 200 Ω in
to two more in parallel (also giving e.m.f. series, R = 50 + 200 = 250 Ω
of 1.5 V), then connected in series to the
single remaining cell with e.m.f. of 1.5 V • 100 Ω and 100 Ω in series, connected in parallel
sum of e.m.f.s = 1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 4.5 V with 200 Ω so 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/200 + 1/200
= 2/200 so R = 100 Ω
13 1/RTotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + 1/R4 = 4/10
so, RTotal = 10/4 = 2.5 Ω • 100 Ω and 200 Ω in series, connected in parallel
with 100 Ω so 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/300 + 1/100
R = R1 + R2 = 100 + 200 = 300 Ω
14 a  = 4/300 so R = 75 Ω
b 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/100 + 1/200 = 3/200,
• All in parallel, so 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
so R = 200/3 = 67 Ω
= 1/100 + 1/100 + 1/200 = 5/200 so R = 40 Ω
c esistance of the series combination is
R
given in part a, 300 Ω 17 10 Ω (remember for resistors connected in
parallel, their combined resistance is smaller
so, for full combination, 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 than any of the individual resistances)
= 1/300 + 1/200 = 5/600
18 T
 he p.d. across each resistor is the same as the
so, R = 600/5 = 120 Ω
e.m.f. of the battery.
Rearrange V = IR to give I = V/R = 12/500
15 a 
= 0.024 A Rearrange V = IR to give current, I = V/R =
10/20 = 0.50 A
total resistance R = R1 + R2 = 500 + 1000 =
b 19 Combined resistance of all resistors, R, is
1500 Ω given by:
Rearrange V = IR to give I = V/R =
1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 = 1/20 + 1/40 + 1/50 =
12/1500 = 0.008 A
19/200 so R = 200/19 = 10.5 Ω
c Total resistance R is given by 1/R = Rearrange V = IR to give current I = V/R =
1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/500 + 1/1000 = 3/1000 10/10.5 = 0.95 A
so, R = 1000/3 = 333 Ω But an easier way to approach this is to
Rearrange V = IR to give I = V/R = (12 × calculate the current through each resistor
3)/1000 = 0.036 A using I = V/R, given that the p.d. across each
16 Total resistances possible are: 40 Ω, 50 Ω, 67 Ω, resistor is the same and equals the e.m.f. of
75 Ω, 100 Ω (two ways), 167 Ω, the battery. sum of currents = 10/20 + 10/40 +
10/50 = 190/200 = 0.95 A

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

20 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 so 1/10 = 1/20 + 1/R2 so 1/R2 d c harge Q = It = 0.0082 × 60[1]
= 1/10 − 1/20, hence, R = 100 Ω    = 0.492 C[1]
21 T wo in parallel, connected in series with a Q 0.492
further two. For the parallel combination, n= = [1]
e 1.6 × 10 −19 
1/RP = 1/100 + 1/100 = 1/50 so RP = 50 Ω
= 3.1 × 1018[1]
Thus, the total resistance of the series
combination is RS = 100 + 100 + 50 = 250 Ω 7 a current in Y = 2.0 − 0.5 = 1.5 A[1]
22 Resistance of parallel combination is given by b p  .d. across Y = 0.5 × 6.0 = 3.0 V[1]
1/300 + 1/60 = 6/300 = 1/50 so Rp = 50 Ω 3
so, resistance of Y = = 2 Ω [1]
1.5
s o, total resistance of circuit R = 50 + 50 = 100 Ω
c p  .d. across X = 12 − 3 = 9.0 V[1]
Rearrange V = IR to give current, I = V/R 9.0
so, resistance of X = = 4.5 Ω [1]
current at A, I = 600/100 = 6.0 A 2.0
current at B is the same as at A = 6.0 A 8 a  The potential difference across the
p.d. across parallel combination = e.m.f. − p.d. terminals of a battery is the energy
across 50 Ω resistor = 600 − (6.0 × 50) = 300 V transferred per coulomb of charge in
the external circuit.[1]
current at C is V/R = 300/300 = 1.0 A
The e.m.f. of a battery is the energy
current at D is 300/60 = 5.0 A
transferred per coulomb of charge in the
current at E = current at A = 6.0 A complete circuit.[1]
23 a  current = V/R = 10/100 = 0.10 A b i 0.75 A[1]
b current = V/R = 10/(100+5.0) = 0.095 A V = IR = 0.75 × 12 [1]
ii 
= 9.0 V[1]
Exam-style questions iii Use the circuit loop including both
1 B[1] batteries and the 3 Ω resistor:
2 D[1] 9.0 = E2 + (1× 3 )[1]
3 a W = 3.6 A to the right[1] E2 = 6.0 V[1]
V 6
b  = 4.3 − 2.4 = 1.9 downwards 
X [1] =
I =
iv  [1]
R 12 
 = 4.8 − 2.7 = 2.1 A to the left [1]
c 
Y = 0.50 A[1]
d Z = 4.3 − 4.3 = 0 [1] 9 a The ammeter goes in the main circuit. It
must have a low resistance so little energy

4 X = 6.5 − 2.0 = 4.5 mA to the right [1] is transferred in it / there is a small p.d.
 [1] across it.[1]
Y = 4.5 − 4.2 = 0.3 downwards
5 a X = 2.2 − 1.4 = 0.8 V[1] b i resistance of the voltmeter and
b  = 6.3 + 2.4 − 5.0 = 3.7 V [1]
X 1 1 −1
400 Ω resistor = ( + )
1200 400
 = 6.0 − 1.4 − 2.4 = 2.2 V 
c 
X [1]
= 300 Ω[1]
d  = 4.3 + 4.7 = 9.0 V[1]
X
9.0
=
current in the circuit = 0.03 A [1]
Y = 9.0 V[1] 300
1.8 potential drop across
6 a  =
current in resistor I = 8.2 mA [1]
220
100 Ω resistor = 0.03 × 100 = 3.0 V
b p.d. across the lamp V = 6.0 − 1.8 = 4.2 V
[1] therefore, e.m.f. = 9.0 + 3.0 = 12.0 V[1]

6.0
resistance R = V /I =
c  = 730 Ω[1]
0.0082

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
3 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

ii  new resistance of the combination b resistance of the upper arm

1 1 −1  = ( 40 + 20 ) = 60 Ω [1]
=( + ) = 387 Ω
12 000 400 resistance of the lower arm
 [1]
−1
9.5  1 1 
=
new current = 0.0246 A [1] =  +  + 96 = 120 Ω
387  60 40  [1]
p.d. across the new 1 1 −1
resistance of network = ( + )
combination = 387 × 0.0246 60 120
= 9.53 ≈ 9.5 V [1] = 40 Ω[1]
     
iii The voltmeter is in parallel with the c total potential difference across whole
main circuit[1] lower arm = 6.0 V[1]
so it reduces the resistance of any p.d. across the parallel section
combination it is in, as shown in
24
answers b i and b ii.[1] × 6.0 = 1.2 V [1]
=
120
10 a Resistance is the potential difference
current through 60 Ω resistor = 1.2/60 =
across a component divided by the current
0.02 A[1]
in it.[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
4 © Cambridge University Press 2020